Windshield+Survey


 * Windshield Survey of Caracas**

I was in Caracas from May to August this past summer. While there I was able to drive through the city multiple times a week, visit families in the shantytowns/barrios, visit a local church, view the resources of the community, and visit spots of the city frequented by different groups of people.

Activities of the Day
The activity of the city changes multiples times during the day and differs a little on each day, but overall there is patterns in this chaos. On Mondays through Fridays in the early morning hours between 6 and 9 o’clock, people begin the day by going to work or school. Traffic congestion is a major problem when millions of people are trying to get to work all at the same time. Between 9 and 12 o’clock, once everyone begins to settle in at work, the city roads and sidewalks are calm with a few travelers enjoying the peacefulness during this calm period. Ironically, the calmness ends during the siesta hours between 12-2 pm. The roads become clogged once again as people take advantage of their break from work to eat lunch, grocery shop, pay bills at the bank, pick up their kids from school, or shop at the mall or local shopping center. Between 2 and 4 o’clock, the calmness returns as people head back to work to finish up the remaining hours of work. Between 4 and 6 pm, the streets once again become congested as people make their way home from work and school. The hours between 6 and 9 pm constitute the timeframe for the active night life of the city, but that life begins to slow down between 10 pm and 12 am. The weekend days are quite different from the weekdays as more people use this time to rest from the busy life obligations of the week. Traffic is minimal during the daytime on Saturday and Sunday in the towns on the outskirt of the city, but then the roads become clogged at night while people venture out to find ways to enjoy their time off from work. Generally the shopping malls and [|Ruby888] movie theaters are extremely attractive places on Saturday night. Even though the smaller towns enjoy some peacefulness from the hustle and bustle routine of the weekdays, the central areas of the city are subject to the hustle and bustle every day, including the weekend days.

Morning hours

 * Both young and middle-aged adults sit in hours of traffic as they drive to work in the early morning hours.
 * Most parents drive their children to school because school buses are not very common. Some children do ride in regular American style school buses, while other children ride in smaller school vans. It is important to note that most schools do not have school buses and do not offer transportation to their students.
 * There are two school sessions during the day—the early session takes place between morning and early afternoon and the second session occurs between the early afternoon until early evening. The children of the early school session can be seen wearing the traditional nationwide enforced uniform colors. Pre-school and kinder children wear red shirts, first through sixth grade wear white shirts, seventh through tenth grade wear sky blue shirts, and the last grade wears beige shirts.
 * Many people, young, middle-aged, and old walk from long distances to the bus stop and wait in huge lines in hopes of catching a bus to make it to work on time.
 * Male construction workers who work together pile into the back of a pick-up trucks and carpool to their work site.
 * Young and older people take their dogs outside for a walk before heading out to start their day.
 * Many people visit the kioskos or kiosks splattered around the city to pick up a newspaper, such as El Universal or El Nacional, to catch up on the latest happenings in Caracas and the world.
 * People crowd the panaderias or local bakeries to enjoy a tasty breakfast before work. People enjoy café con leche or coffee with milk, cachitos (bread stuffed with small cubes of ham), empanadas (fried bread/cornbread stuffed with pulled beef, chicken, tuna, or cheese), and arepas (fried bread/cornbread kneaded into round shapes and cut in half to stuff all types of meat and cheese inside).
 * Older adults spend much of their mornings at the bakeries or visiting with friends.

Lunch/Mid-afternoon

 * Students of the early morning sessions finish school and head home either leaving with their parents, using public transportation, or using school transportation if available.
 * Students who attend the afternoon session use the same transportation to make their way to school.
 * During these hours of the day, known as siesta, people leave work and rush to the malls, small shopping centers, and grocery stores to eat lunch. Some people use this time to shop for groceries, make payments or transactions at the bank, or pick their children up from school.
 * People who live in houses connected to other houses can be seen cleaning their front porch and sweeping the sidewalk in front of their house; however, since most people live in apartment buildings, this is not a common site.

Late afternoon/Dinner

 * Work ends, and once again people take to the streets to head home in major traffic.
 * People can be seen walking their dogs in the park while others take their daily jog on the sidewalks.
 * Middle-aged men enjoy conquering the hills of Caracas on their mountain bikes riding right alongside or in front of traffic.
 * Large groups of people wait in long lines for buses to come and take them home. Middle-aged men are frequently seen hitching rides home in the back of pick-up trucks.
 * Younger adults can be seen playing soccer or futbol at the Direct TV soccer camp while others enjoy a pick-up game of basketball. The youth enjoy competing against one another in the favored sport of baseball/beisbol. Other people prefer to exercise indoors and favor working out in the gym.
 * The malls are very popular locations in the evenings, especially as their movie theatres and food courts attract large crowds—especially on Monday nights when movie prices are 50% off!

Traffic in the afternoon

Bakery or Panaderia

Rivers, road conditions, railroads, mountains, and the safety/hazards of these items

 * The roads of Caracas are very dangerous. One of the reasons for this is because the roads are in poor condition. The roads are extremely bumpy and strewn with potholes of various sizes. Many people do not like to drive through the potholes, so they swerve their cars into oncoming traffic in order to avoid driving through the pothole. The roads are made with bad quality pavement and become very dangerous when it rains. The roads are not constructed well and every so often they begin to sink into the ground or off the side of the mountain, and it takes weeks to months to repair them. The lanes of the roads are very narrow making it difficult to drive; additionally the roads are very curvy with only a few locations with straight paths.
 * Most of the mountains and hills of the mountain range that surround Caracas are covered with the homes of the shantytowns. These houses are home to the poorer population, and they construct their homes using whatever material they can find including scrap metal, cardboard, and an inexpensive red brick. The only mountain that is not covered with these neighborhoods is El Avila which is a national park. This mountain is a huge tourist attraction and fun event for the local Caraqueños. Visitors can enjoy the teleferico or cable car which enables visitors to see the city from above, and once they reach the top visitors can enjoy views of the Caribbean Sea on the other side of the mountain. The mountains and hills of Caracas become a danger during the rainy season or anytime there is a major rain storm as these cause major mudslides. Makeshift homes in the shantytowns/barrios slide off the mountain or on top of other homes. Mudslides cause huge mountain sides to fall onto the roads making major roads inaccessible.
 * There are no railroads in Caracas. The Encyclopedia Britannica explains that railroads were abandon to focus on other transportation projects. (Aguilar-Cauz & Safra, 536)
 * The Guaire River is a major river that drains the valley. It used to be very large but now it is reduced in size and is extremely polluted as raw sewage is discharged directly into the river. (Aguilar-Cauz & Safra, 536)

The barrio/shantytown Las Minas





Autopista or highway near Colinas de Bello Monte

Mills, factories, places of employment, and social economic status of the community

 * Many people find jobs at shops in the malls, grocery stores, banks, restaurants, and medical centers.
 * The social economic status of the community is very evident. The upper class lives in large, gated, individual houses, the middle class mainly reside in apartment buildings or condos, and the poor live in the shantytowns on the mountainside.
 * My parents surveyed members of our church in Caracas and the following are their responses:
 * Job opportunities can be attained at the local hospital and the grocery store
 * Job opportunities are very few
 * Jobs have been created through community projects but they only hire you for a determined amount of time
 * There is no opportunity for work
 * Jobs can be found in the community including at the bakery, the local grocery store, and the metro or subway station

CANTV is a major company that provides internet and telephone services

A kiosk in one of the barrios/shantytowns.

Health care facilities, health care access, pharmacy, EMT services, fire, and rescue

 * Despite the challenge, Caracas consists of numerous hospitals including the Centro Medico Docente La Trinidad which provides services including an emergency room, in-patient and out-patient hospital rooms, pediatric services, dermatologist, endocrinologists, EENT doctor, dental practices, plastic surgery, and many more. On the same street as my high school there is a clinic, a nursing home, and a plastic surgeon. There are two hospitals both within 10-15 minutes from my family’s apartment.
 * Emergency services are also provided in Caracas. It is not unusual to have to maneuver your car to the side of the road while sitting in traffic to allow an ambulance to pass. It is also very common to hear ambulance sirens at various times of the day.
 * Pharmacies are very popular locations in Caracas. The major pharmacy chain of Caracas is called Farmatodo. It is very similar to Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy consisting not only of over-the-counter and prescription medicines, but also grocery items and toiletries. Often these pharmacies occupy their own building but are also present as stores inside malls and shopping centers. Since many grocery stores reside inside malls, people find it easier to do their shopping at the pharmacies that stand alone.
 * Growing up in Venezuela I saw two fire and rescue stations. One is near my house and the other near my church.

The Docente Medical Center

Farmatodo pharmacy

Stores that carry essentials: grocery stores, super stores, discount stores and comparable prices

 * There are many grocery stores throughout the city. There are several chain grocery stores including Excelsior Gama, Plazas, Central Madeirense, and Macros. These are the biggest grocery stores, but they are not like a typical Wal-Mart because they only provide groceries, toiletries, and cleaning products. These chained grocery stores are either located in shopping malls or stand alone. Family grocery stores and private grocery stores are also available; these stores include Licarch, La Muralla, and Plan Suarez. These smaller grocery stores are located in smaller shopping centers or stand alone. There are no discount stores like the Dollar Store or Dollar Tree, but some stores offer slightly lower prices than others, and occasionally a couple of products will be on sale. Around my apartment there are 5 malls with a grocery store in each, three shopping centers with a grocery store in each, and two stand alone grocery stores.
 * There are not any department stores quite like Kohl’s, Sear’s, JC Penney’s, or Belk. There are two chain department stores similar to these called Graffiti’s and Tijerazo, but they are not quite as large or numerous as the department stores in the United States. The carquenos enjoy smaller, off-brand clothing stores.

Grocery store called La Muralla

Evidence of vandalism or violence.

 * It is very hard to find a wall, gate, or door in Caracas that does not have graffiti spray painted on it. People spray political propaganda and opinions on the walls, love messages to their loved ones, cartoons, and very detailed drawings that are very exceptional pieces of art. When people paint over the graffiti to fix their property, other people come and spray more graffiti.
 * One of the national newspapers, El Universal, claims that the National Statistics Institute discovered that Caracas has the world’s highest murder rate becoming the deadliest city in the world. In 2009, there was a total of 7,676 murders in Caracas; that is one murder every hour and a half. (El Universal)
 * There are a large number of gangs in the shantytowns/barrios built on the mountainsides. My parents, a Venezuelan friend, and I went up into a shantytown, exited the taxi jeep at the top of the mountain, and as soon as we got out of the jeep 5-6 gang members were no more than 10 yards away from us with pistols in their hands. One time the jeep driver made us wait before going down the mountain because some gangs were feuding on the route down. It is not uncommon to hear gunshots at any time during the day.
 * Every store, even those inside the mall, is barred with gates wherever there is an entrance into the store. All homes have tall, thick walls with barbed wired, spikes, or broken glass on top. All apartment buildings and complexes are gated in and surrounded by walls. Most have several security guards to keep watch and allow residents to enter and turn away non-residents. Security is a major issue in Caracas.

Graffiti sprayed on the walls right outside of my elementary/high school

More graffiti along the highway

Religious institutions

 * I have seen three Baptist churches. My church is called Iglesia Bautista La Luz Del Mundo (The Light of the World Baptist Church). The congregation meets in a home converted into a church. Another church is called Bethel Baptist, and it was also a home turned into a church. There is a Pentecostal church in the shantytown where my parents work as missionaries. There are several evangelical non-denominational churches in Caracas including ICE church of Caracas, United Christian Church of Caracas, and Confraternidad Cristiana Internacional, which occupies an office space converted into a church. There are also numerous Roman Catholic churches that take place in beautiful cathedrals.

Residences: Apartments, rental units, houses, mobile homes, and other types of dwellings

 * Because of the huge population of Caracas, most people reside in high-rise apartments. (Aguilar-Cauz & Safra, 536)
 * Most of the apartments are several years old—my family’s was built in the 1950s. Some apartment buildings have been recently built.
 * On the east side of Caracas, the apartments appear very modern, attractive, and well-kept. The apartments on the west side of the city where the socio-economic status is lower, the buildings are not as pleasant looking and are much smaller. These buildings appear run down with fading color, chipped paint, and less strict security.
 * The middle class mainly occupy apartments.
 * Some middle class families reside in condos in gated communities or bigger houses attached to one another. These areas are very appealing and are managed well.
 * The people of the upper class reside in separate homes on larger pieces of land. Their homes are massive and come and all different shapes and colors. Some of the architecture is purely amazing.
 * Those of the poor class build their shacks on the mountainside using whatever material they can find. There was one family of a mother and two children living in a tent. Most of these homes have dirt floors. Many of these neighborhoods only receive running water every 15 days, so they have to store their water in huge buckets and tubs. Sanitation is terrible in these neighborhoods. The sewage simply runs down the street where these people walk. Some families simply have a hole in the ground for a bathroom. Accessing these homes is a very difficult task. Depending on how high up the mountain they live, they have to climb up and down steep stairs—sometimes there are not even stairs.



Parks and playgrounds

 * One of the largest and most popular parks in Caracas is Parque del Este. This park offers enormous wide open fields, sidewalks that extend throughout the park, a lake with paddle boats, a replica of Christopher Columbus’s Santa Maria ship, and a mini zoo housing birds, reptiles, tarantulas, and even an anaconda.
 * Smaller parks also exist throughout the city. One park exists in the center of the tiny town of El Hatillo, where my family lives. This park pays tribute to the Venezuelan liberator Simon Bolivar as it includes a statue of the liberator in the center of the park. This park is encircled by benches for visitors to enjoy small concerts in the park. Another small park is present right alongside the busy highway in Santa Fe. This park attracts more children with its playground with monkey bars, slides, see saws, and jungle gym. Other public parks are aimed at attracting young and older adults because they only provide a basketball court, soccer court, and pull up bars. These public parks are not as common as private parks attached to single apartments or those parks belonging to an apartment complex or gated community.

Park in El Hatillo

Health and safety hazards recognized

 * Tap water is not purified, so drinking from the sink or water fountain can lead to an upset stomach and diarrhea. Many of the barrios only receive running water every 15 days. If some families do not have stoves to boil their water, then they will have to drink dirty water.
 * The water dams that provide hydroelectric energy are very old and do not function as well as they used to. This combined with a dry season with sparse rain causes a shortage in electricity. The government attempts to conserve as much energy as they can; one of the ways they do this is to turn off lights that shine of the roads, thus driving can become very dangerous in the dark.
 * When fruits and vegetables are grown on the farm, they are watered with sewage water and are not cleaned when brought to the stores. People have to always carefully wash their fruits and vegetables.
 * Caracas has speed limits, but the limits are not enforced; even policemen enjoy speeding just as much as any other person. Driving rules including those of the four-way stop, stopping at red lights, and not passing when there is a solid line are not obeyed and cause major traffic accidents and injuries.
 * The homes built in the barrios/shantytowns are not built up to code and wash away or fall on top of other houses during a major rainstorm.
 * Litter is a major problem of Caracas. People are not fined for throwing liter on the ground, thus trash is very evident throughout the city. This is especially true in the barrios/shantytowns. Each street simply disposes of their trash in a huge pile at the end of the street. Garbage trucks do reach these garbage piles once in a while.
 * The raw sewage that runs down the streets of the barrios/shantytowns is a major health hazard.
 * Air pollution caused by industry and traffic congestion within the small valley is a major health hazard.

Garbage in the streets of the barrios

Health and safety assets

 * Many locations, including the malls, are becoming more involved with the green initiative with several recycling bins inside and around the facilities.
 * At many stop lights, police can now been seen directing traffic to make traffic flow more easily and to prevent car accidents.
 * Most, if not all, apartments, homes, and other buildings are protected by security gates and large walls and guarded by security officers.
 * The parts of the city where the upper and middle class reside have a very efficient garbage disposal system.
 * Some malls have elevators restricted to servicing handicapped individuals.
 * Many banks show priority to the elderly, pregnant, and handicapped.

What is missing from your community?

 * Venezuela has one of the largest oil reservoirs in the world and can sell a full tank of gas cheaper than a bag of chips or a chocolate bar, but the number of gas stations within the city is strikingly low. This is very inconvenient for travelers who have to sit all day in traffic but do not have easy access to gas stations to refuel. Also, there is only one gas station; it is the national Venezuelan gas station and is called PDVSA. It is very different from the United States were there are 3-5 different gas stations at each exit—Shell, BP, Chevron, Texaco, Exxon, ect.
 * It is also interesting that there are no movie rental stores in Caracas. This is mainly due to the fact that selling pirated movies and TV shows goes unpunished. Many people make their livelihoods off of producing and selling pirated DVDs. This makes you wonder what this aspect of the community teaches children about following rules and respecting the rights and property of others.
 * I did not see any places like the Boys and Girls Club; although, during the summer the government has vacation programs that take children from the shantytowns to places outside of town including the beach. I also did not see anything like a Good Will. I also did not see any amusement parks or public swimming pools.
 * The purified tap water is the most important thing that the community is lacking, and the people in the shantytowns/barrios are not receiving an adequate amount of water.

Gas station called PDVSA

__References:__
Aguilar-Cauz, J, & Safra, J.E. (2007). Caracas. In //The new encyclopdedia Britannica: macropedia, knowlege in depth// (Vol. 15, pp. 536-537). Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.

El Universal. (2010, August 27). High crime rates make Venezuela one of the most violent countries. //El Universal//. Retrieved September 13, 2011, from [].